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27

Jun, 2017

4 Safety Tips for the 4th of July

The Fourth of July is one of the most exciting holidays of the summer! It’s a time for relaxing with family and friends, BBQs and who could forget the fireworks? However, as one of the busiest weekends of the year, there are several factors that can lead to accidents. Here are 4 quick tips to ensure you have a safe holiday.

Don’t forget to wear Sunscreen!

Even if the sun is not visible, you are still susceptible to its harmful rays. Use a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 and reapply at least every two hours or more frequently if you are in the water. Wear a hat and also protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses when outdoors. To protect against heat stroke, keep cool and drink lots of water.

Keep children away from Fireworks

Children should never play with fireworks. If not handled properly, fireworks can cause burn and eye injuries in both children and adults. The best way to protect your family is not to use fireworks in the home and attend a public show in your community, with trained professionals putting on the show. However, if you decide to light fireworks at your home, please read these tips put out by Kids Health.

Be watchful of children in the Water

Keep an eye on kids who are near water. Be especially watchful of younger children and those who aren’t strong swimmers. Make sure you are within arm’s length in case there is an accident and don’t allow children to run, push or dunk each other.

Cook and Grill safely

Whether you are grilling at home or at a park, make sure to always monitor the grill and keep little ones and pets at least three feet away. An average of 8,900 home fires are caused by grilling and approximately half of all injuries are caused by thermal burns. Before using the grill, check that it is clean and there is nothing blocking the tubes that lead from the gas tank to the grill. Keep cigarettes, matches and open flames away from the grill. To ensure the grill is safely off, turn off the gas tank first before turning off the grill burners.